[Debate] Guests Must Log-In

[magicshroomd]

I say you should, but have at least 1 or 2 boards open.

[Matt [Malfoy250]]

Aug 25, 2006 23:43:43 GMT -8 @myke said:

Guests Must Log-In

How do you feel about the practice of leaving a forum in Guests Must Log-In Mode?

Some people say they do this to protect their forum's content, to make it more difficult for people to plagiarize it for use on other forums. Some people do this simply to get people to register to view the board, either in hopes the person will stay, or to increase their forum's member count.

Others think that leaving a forum in guests must log-in mode is not the best thing to do. It is thought that if people want to steal content bad enough, all they have to do is register an account and steal away. Some people are of the opinion that a forum should show what they have to offer to guests, so that it may persuade them to join if they like what they see.

So what do you think about leaving a forum in guests must log-in mode?

Debate.

Personally if I see a forum that limits access to members only, I just go somewhere else without a second glance. It's a good way of ensuring security or protecting information, but not a good idea for those who want members. I like to thoroughly view a forum and all of it's content before I join, so see if it is something I would be interested in. To put such a barrier is inconvenient, and I wouldn't want to waist my time by joining just to see what it's about.

[Jaded Sammy]

Apr 27, 2008 10:01:20 GMT -8 Matt [Malfoy250] said:

Aug 25, 2006 23:43:43 GMT -8 @myke said:

Guests Must Log-In

How do you feel about the practice of leaving a forum in Guests Must Log-In Mode?

Some people say they do this to protect their forum's content, to make it more difficult for people to plagiarize it for use on other forums. Some people do this simply to get people to register to view the board, either in hopes the person will stay, or to increase their forum's member count.

Others think that leaving a forum in guests must log-in mode is not the best thing to do. It is thought that if people want to steal content bad enough, all they have to do is register an account and steal away. Some people are of the opinion that a forum should show what they have to offer to guests, so that it may persuade them to join if they like what they see.

So what do you think about leaving a forum in guests must log-in mode?

Debate.

Personally if I see a forum that limits access to members only, I just go somewhere else without a second glance. It's a good way of ensuring security or protecting information, but not a good idea for those who want members. I like to thoroughly view a forum and all of it's content before I join, so see if it is something I would be interested in. To put such a barrier is inconvenient, and I wouldn't want to waist my time by joining just to see what it's about.

I definitely agree with Malfoy. If I can't see what i'm getting myself into I don't waste my time.

[Enchant]

Please make sure that you are all posting at least four sentences when posting in the boards. This board is for discussion purposes, not fly by comments. Post your personal experiences the good and bad, post your recomendations, etc...join the discussion not interrupt it. Thank you.

[HoudiniDerek]

Apr 22, 2008 3:42:53 GMT -8 Tini♥ said:

I'm not a fan of the guests must log in mode... I believe that a forum should show what they have to offer to guests, so that if they like it they'll join... If you don't want them to see the posts and stuff there are other ways to do it... Plus I think it's annoying when someone advertises at your site and when you try to link back the guests must log in mode appears. It's not fair to others

I agree that if they advertise, they should be open...or make it abundantly clear in their advertising post that it is a members must log-in forum.

I prefer to have most places open on a forum with the exceptions of the staff place for example. I try to hide creative work as well from any non-members. I feel that this protects them more if they make graphics or write something that they want to share with the community. However, as has been mentioned, there are other ways to protect that work and still have the majority of the forum open.

[synthinator]

I run a heavy metal discussion board and I know full well that my board is not the only one out there. There are literally hundreds of thousands metal boards out there. If I want to run my board successfully I need to keep the whole thing open in order to display the content that is on the board as well as the personalities of the people who are posting there. If I come across a board that is closed to guests, I'll just move on to the next board. The other thing is affiliates. If I affiliate with someone I'm going to want to see the content of their board before I affiliate.

[Shiraz]

I rather hate it when I come across a board that supports the Guest Must Log-In thing. How is one supposed to know what are the activities and options around the site if it's all locked away? Besides, it would make a guest feel like they're forced to join, which is in itself a huge turn-off - it makes the admin of the forum seem a bit...hmm, bossy? I'm not sure if that's the right word. Anyway, if the guest does register and doesn't like what he or she sees, you're going to end up having to contact them, ask them if they still want to stay, and then deal with rejection...quite a hassle, if you ask me.

[Kirsty geek]

I leave my board open so any body can view anything they want, but they can't post unless it is in the Advertise or Affiliate board. That seemes fair to me, they can see what they are getting themsleves into and the standerd of the postes which dare I say so far is really good in most peoples cases, but I do not expect that standered from any one as long as they post as best as they can, like watching there spelling and grammer they are the two most important things.

[spookygrl]

Aug 25, 2006 23:43:43 GMT -8 @myke said:

Guests Must Log-In

How do you feel about the practice of leaving a forum in Guests Must Log-In Mode?

I think it depends on the personal board's needs or concerns. Did they have problems in the past with people on another board? Would going this method actually prevent plaguerism? What are the pros and cons? Does the forum have enough members that they can afford to go this route? These are examples of questions I think should be considered before even thinking of doing this.

Some people say they do this to protect their forum's content, to make it more difficult for people to plagiarize it for use on other forums.

I honestly don't see how this would make it more difficult to plaguerize, if some one wanted to, all they'd have to do is register and then plaguerize from the board. On the other hand it may stop lazier plaguerizers in their tracks.

Some people do this simply to get people to register to view the board, either in hopes the person will stay, or to increase their forum's member count.

I would consider this the WORST of the worse reasons to go this route. First of all, admins need to keep in mind that THEIR board's subject is not the ONLY one out there. If I see something like this, I would move onto check out a different board of the same subject before I would even bother registering just to see what's in that board. I imagine most people would feel this way.

Others think that leaving a forum in guests must log-in mode is not the best thing to do. It is thought that if people want to steal content bad enough, all they have to do is register an account and steal away. Some people are of the opinion that a forum should show what they have to offer to guests, so that it may persuade them to join if they like what they see.
So what do you think about leaving a forum in guests must log-in mode?
Debate.

I am in the middle of the road on this one. I think under some circumstances it might be necessary, like in situations where there has been so much attacks and flames from other boards or trolls that doing this mode serves to protect the already thriving community and is a reasonable safeguard. Other than that, I see very little reason for it, unless it's a group that wants privacy and doesn't want to grow real big.

In the end I would NEVER reccommend that a brand new board that does NOT have a thriving community go this route. Build the community up, make it thrive and successful and then *if* for some reason, something happens that makes this a reasonable action, only then, consider it.

[Qeedfwefgv]

I always move on. I'm picky about what the forum is about, and I wan't to read the rules before I sign up, to see if there's something there I wouldn't be able to do, or wouldn't want to have to bother with. Would you join a fan club, without knowing who they are fans of?

[viruszero]

I can see why some people want their forums like that... Due to unregistered people stealing their content, thinking it might generate more traffic/members or keeping out spammers/flamers from seeing what their board has/is like before registering. But, atleast for me anyway, if I see a board that is entirely locked from guests it makes me think "What are they hiding there?" or "Is there something there they don't want just anyone to see?" and it tends to make me a bit paranoid. Especially when it's linked from a forum where several people have used my work without permission before... (Though I've come to an understanding with each person who has taken my work. Atleast the ones that I know of anyway...) So that's why I do like to see atleast some of the forum displayed, as it puts my mind at rest somewhat. I mean they could still steal from me but have it hidden... but just seeing that some of the forum is open doesn't immediately make me jump to conclusions, (which I probably shouldn't anyway. But seeing a forum locked and linked from one where I've had a few problems before doesn't exactly reassure one's mind.)

[spookygrl]

I think that a board should at least be open to see the mainpage so guests can view the descriptions of the forums and what they are about. But if for whatever reason, the admins feel it is necessary to require registration prior to seeing and engaging in the forums they should at least have one forum open that shares the rules of the forum, and a description about the community and that it has to offer for the guests to see if they would like to register to see more of it.

[HoudiniDerek]

May 18, 2008 21:28:25 GMT -8 spookygrl said:

I think that a board should at least be open to see the mainpage so guests can view the descriptions of the forums and what they are about. But if for whatever reason, the admins feel it is necessary to require registration prior to seeing and engaging in the forums they should at least have one forum open that shares the rules of the forum, and a description about the community and that it has to offer for the guests to see if they would like to register to see more of it.

I agree with that. The main page is a necessary part of it in my opinion. A name of a forum will not do it justice most times, even if specifically themed. I like to read board descriptions too.

I also agree that the rules should be visible...and plot if an RP. I think it is important for the potential members to see how the rules are enforced and the like so they know if it fits their idea of a forum in which they would want to be active.

Finally, if there are going to be boards closed to guests, put in the Code that says you have to Login or Register to view. I hate seeing an empty Last Post column down an entire forum.

[rockerdude]

I personally leave it so guests can view the boards but not post on them and all.

[Enchant]

May 30, 2008 12:21:56 GMT -8 rockerdude said:

I personally leave it so guests can view the boards but not post on them and all.

Thank you for joining the discussion, but please make your post part of the discussion with a minimum of 4 sentences. Anything less isn't contributing and just a fly by comment. Thank you.